A7n 



S 2734 
R7 P3 
opy 1 



i}» order "DEWITTT^'* Actings Plays. 

r^RiCE IS cents;. 




DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS. 

(Number 305.) 




A PAIR OF SHOES. 



A FARCE, 
By SYDNEY ROSENFIELD, 

Author of '' Rosemi Shelly' ''The Pique Family;' ''Off the 

Stage;' '' Mr. X.;' " On Bread and Water;' "High C." 

"I shall Invite the Major;' *^ Mabel's Manmuwe;' 

"Married Bachelors;' "The Heir 

Apparent;' etc,, etc. 



TOGETHER WITH 

A description of the Costumes— Synopsis of the Piece— Cast ol the Characters 

—Entrances and Exits— Relative Positions of the Performers oil 

the Stage, and the whole of the Stage Business^ 




DE WilT, PUBLISHER, 

Xo. 33 Hose Street, 




\ 



^ A COMPLETE DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF OE WIH'S ACTIN8 

NOW ^ PLAYS, AND DE WITT'S ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMAS, containing 
RE AHV I ^^^*^» Costnme, Scenery, Time of Representation, and every otiier infornc-* 
tion, mailed free and post-paid. 



DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS. 



^^ Please notice that nearly all the Comedies^ Farces and Comediettas in the foUowinj^ 
hit ofDn Witt'« Acting Plays'' are very s^dtablefor representation in small Amateur Thea- 
tres and on Parlor Stages, as they need but little extrinsic aid from complicated scenery or 
eecpensive costumes. They have attained tJieir deserved popularity by their droll situations^ 
excellent plots, great humor and brilliant dialogues, no less than by the fact that they are the 
most perfect in every respect of any edition of plays ever published either in the United States 
or Europe, whether as regards purity of the text, accuracy and fulness ofstctge directions and 
scenery, or elegance of typography and clearness of printing. 

*:ti* In ordering please copy the figures at the commervcement of each piece, which indicate 
the number of the piece in " Db Witt's List op Acting Plats." 

d^" Any of the following Plays sent^ postage free, on receipt of price — 15 

cents each. '^ 



The figure following the name of the Plaj denotes the number of 
Acts. The figures in the columns indicate the number of characters — M. male ; 
E.^ female. 



No. 

75. 
114. 
167. 

93. 

40. 

80. 
192. 
166. 

41. 
141. 

err. 

3d. 
160. 

70. 
179. 

25. 

24. 
. 1. 

69. 
175. 

55. 
t 

80^ 

65. 

68. 

76. 
149. 
121. 
107. 
152. 

52. 
148. 

113. 

199. 

30. 
4. 
22. 
96. 
16. 
58. 
125, 
71. 



H. F. 



Adrienne, drama, 3 acts 7 3 

Anything for a Change, comedy, 13 3 

Apple Blossoms, comedy, 3 acts — 7 3 

Area Belle (The), farce, 1 act 3 2 

Atchi, comedietta, 1 act 3 2 

Aunt Charlotte's Maid, farce, 1 act. . 3 3 

Game of Cards (A), comedietta, 13 1 

Bardell vs. Pickwick, sketch, 1 act. 6 2 

Beautiful Forever, farce, 1 act 2 3 

Bells (The), drama, 3 acts 9 3 

Birthplace of Podgers, farce, 1 act. . 7 3 

Black Sheep, drama, 3 acts 7 5 

Blow for Blow, drama, 4 acts 11 6 

Bonnie Fish Wife, farce, 1 act 3 1 ' 

Breach of Promise,, drama, 2 acts. . 5 2 

Broken-Hearted Club, comedietta, 14 8 

Cabman, No. 93, farce, 1 act 2 2 

Caste, comedy, 3 acts 5 3 

Caught by the Cuff, farce, 1 act 4 1 

Cast upon the World, drama, 5acts.l0 5 
Catharine Howard, historical play, 

3 acts .^ 12 

Charming pair, farce, 1 act. ! 4 

Checkmate, comedy, 2 acts 6 

Chevalier de St. George, drama, 3 9 
Chops of the Channel, farce, 1 act. 3 

Clouds, comedy, 4 acts 8 

Comical Countess, farce, 1 act 3 1 

Cupboard Love, farce, 1 act 2 1 

Cupid's Eye-Glass, comedy, 1 act... 1 1 

Cup of Tea, comedietta, 1 act 3 1 

Cut off with a Shilling, comedietta, 

1 act 2 1 

Cyrill's Success, comedy, 5 acts 10 4 

Captain of the Watch (The), come- 
dietta, 1 act 4 2 

Daddy Gray, drama, 3 acts 8 4 

Dandelion's Dodges, farce, 1 act 4 2 

David Gar rick, comedy, 3 acts 8 3 

Dearest Mamma, comedietta, 1 act, 4 3 

Deare? than Life, drama, 3 acta 6 5 

Deborah (Leah) drama, 3 acts 7 6 

Deerfoot, farce, 1 act 5 I 

Doing for the Best, drama, 2 acta. . 5 3 

I>oUar8 and Centa, comedy, S acts. . 9 4 



No. 

21. 
186. 

47. 

135. 

200. 

103. 

9. 

128. 
101. 

99. 
145. 
102. 
•^88. 

74. 

53. 

73. 

30. 



131. 

28. 

151. 

8. 

180. 

19. 

-xj 60. 

7^187. 

174. 

64. 

190. 

191. 

197. 

18. 



Dreams, drama, 5 acts 6 

Duchess de la Valliere, play, 5 acts. . 6 



Easy Shaving, farce, 1 act , 



116. 

129. 
159. 
122. 
177. 

100. 

139. 

17. 

86. 

72. 



Everybody's Friend, comedy, 3 acts. 6 

Estranged, an operetta, 1 act 2 

Faust and Marguerite, drama, 3 acts, 9 
Fearful Tragedy in the Seven Dials, 

interlude, 1 act 4 

Female Detective, drama, 3 acts.. ..11 

Fernande, drama, 3 acts . . . 11 

Fifth Wheel, comedy, 3 acts 10 

First^jove, comedy, 1 act 4 

Foiled^>*i;^a, 4 acts r. . 9 

Founded on Facts, farce, 1 act. . . . 4 

Garrick Fever, farce, 1 act 7 

Gertrude's Money Box, farce, 1 act. 4 
Golden Fetter (Fettered), drama, 3 11 
Goqge with the Golden Eggs, farce, 

1 aStV 5 

Go to Putney, farce, 1 act 4 

Happy Pair, comedietta, 1 act 1 

Hard Case (A), farce, 1 act 2 

Henry Dunbar, drama, 4 acts 10 

Henry the Fifth, historical play, 5 38 

He's a Lunatic, farce, 1 act 3 

Hidden Hand, drama, 4 acts 5 

His Own Enemy, farce, 1 act 4 

Home, comedy, 3 acts 4 

Hougehold Fairy, sketch, 1 act 1 

Hunting the Slipper, farce, 1 act 4 

High C, comedietta, 1 act 4 

Hunchback (The), play, 5 acts 14 

If I Had a Thousand a Year, farce, 

lact 4 

I'mrNot Mesilf at All, original Irish ' 

stew, 1 act 3 

In for a Holiday, farce, 1 act 2 

In the Wrong House, farce, 1 act. . . 4 

Isabella Orsini, drama, 4 acts .11 

I Shall Invite the Major, comedy, 1 4 

Jack Long, drama, 2 acts 9 

Joy is Dangerous, comedy, 2 acts. . . 3 

Kind to a Fnuk, comedy, 2 acts 6 

Lady of Lyons, play, 6 acta 12 

Lame ]$x<;u8e, farce, 1 act 4 



F. 

3 

4 
2 
5 
1 
7 

1 
4 
10 
2 
1 
3 
2 
4 
2 
4 



A PAIR or SHOES. 



A FARCE, 



IN ONE ACT 



By SYDNEY ROSENFELD, 

Author of ''Eosemi Shell,'* '' The Pique Family;' " Off the Stage;* 

''Mr,X.;* ''On Bread and Water;' ''High C-;' " I Shall 

Inmte the Major;' '' MaheVs Manmuvre;' ''Married 

Bachelors;' " The Heir Apparent;' etc., etc. 



I U 



TOGETHER WITH 
A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUMES— CAST OF THE CHARACTEBS— EN- 
TRANCES AND EXITS — RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE PERFORM- 
ERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE OF THE STAGE 
"BUSINESS. 







1. .......* 



o^ry, ^<o^ 



NEW YORK : 

BE WITT, PUBLISHER, 

No. 33 Rose Street. 

Copyright, 1882, hj A. T. B. Dk Witt. 



A PAIR OF SHOES. 



CHAEACTEES. 



<=; 



-)^ 
^ <i."^ 



A 



Mr. William Beale, with a penchant for stocks. 

John Owens, a shoemaker. 

Theodore Treadbar. 

Jefferson", a colored servant. 

Mrs. Beale. 

Mrs. Owens. 

Mary. 



TIME IN REPRESENTATION— TWENTY MINUTES. 



SCENE. 

A well-furnished apartment. 

ICD.! 



^ 



Flower Stand. 



Table. 



Chairs. 



Sofa. 



O O 

O • O 

OOGO OGOGO GOO GGGGGG GGG G 



COSTUMES. 

Beale. — Business suit. 

Owens. — Brown cutaway coat; checked pantaloons drawn over heavy boQtg j 

brown wig and side whiskers. 
Treadbar.— Handsome walking suit. (Make up with pale face and thin hair 

and black mustache.) 
Mrs. O. — Plain calice dress. 
Mrs. B.— Neat house dress. 



PEOPEETIES. 

A pair of pink satin shoes, newspaper, bundle of letters. 



/^- 3T^^ 1 



A PAIB Ot SHOES. 



SYNOPSIS. 

Mrs. Oweks, a shoemaker's wife, jealous of her husband, delivers a pair of 
shoes at 3Irs. Beale's house herself, so as to prevent her husband's visit there. 
She recognizes in jMrs. Beale an old friend who has risen to prosperity, and 
who had once been in circumstances as humble as ]\Irs. Owens. During a very 
friendly conversation that ensues, I\Irs. B. confides to her friend that she had 
been so indiscreet as to write letters to a young man who had been paying her 
attentions, until finally, not wishing to compromise herself further, she had 
changed her mind, and had returned his letters, with the request to him to send 
back hers. This letter remains unanswered for six months ; but a few days ago 
she received a note from a pereon signing himself " Tkeadbah," setting forth 
that if Mrs. B. would grant him a private interview during her husband's ab- 
sence he would restore her the letters. Mrs. B., in great distress, appeals to her 
friend Mrs. O. The latter imdertakes the task of meeting the stranger to secure 
the letters, and they both retire to await hi& arrival. In the meanwhile, Owens, 
the shoemaker, arrives in search of his wife, and is followed by Tkeadbae, 
who mistakes him for Mrs. B.'s husband. An amusing encounter between these 
two is the result, and Oavens obtains the letters, believing in the infidelity of 
his wife. He hides behind a flower stand on hearing his wife approach, and 
witnesses an interview between her and Mr. B., who has just come home from 
'* down town," where he had been speculating in stocks. Mrs. O., mistaking 
the husband for the stranger, pounces upon him and demands the letters. The 
confusion thus caused lasts (even after Mrs. B. herself has come upon the 
scene) until Owens comes down holding the letters. Comical explanations 
then follow, and though Mrs. B. is exonerated, the shoemaker's wife appears 
as the guilty writer of the letters, and the indignant shoemaker is about vent- 
ing his rage upon her, when she reminds him, sotto voce, that she doesn't know 
how to write. The shoemaker is calmed, and the secret of the letters remains 
with the ladies. Owens learns from Beale that by a speculation in stocks, he 
(Owens) has made a big stake, and the curtain falls on a scene of general joy; 
and a pleasant allusion to the results following the fortunate piu-chase of "a 

PAI& OF SHOES." 



STAGE DIRECTIONS, 



R. means Kight of stage, facing the Audience ; L. Left ; C. Centre ; R. C. Right 
of Centre; L. C. Left of Centre. D. F. Door in Flat, or Scene running across 
the back of the stage; C. D. F. Centre Door in the Flat; R. D. F. Right door in 
the Flat ; L. D. F. Left Door in the Flat ; R. D. Right Door ; L. D. Left Door ; 
1 E. First entrance ; 2 E. Second entrance ; U. E. Upper Entrance; 1, 2 or 3 G. 
First Second or Third Grooves. 

R. R. C. C. L. C, L. 

The reader is supposed to be upon the stage, facing the audience. 



A VAIR OF SHOES. 



SCEXE. — A weTl-furnished apartment. Discover Mk. and Mks. Beale 
at Ireakfafit taUe^ L? 2 e. He is reading a paper, restlessly, 

Beale. Stocks down again! I never saw anything like it in the 
Tvhole course of my life, {continues reading .) 

Mrs. Beale. But, William, why do you persist in speculating? I 
wish you would keep out of the stock market. I wish you had 
never got rich. When we kept a little hardware store down town, 
five years ago, we were much happier than we are now ; in spite of 
all the high-toned folks that come to see us — 

Beale {not noticing her). Wabash lOJ^. 

Mrs. B. {aside). There he goes again. His mJnd is so full of stocks 
there's no use talking to him. {aloud) William, j^our coffee will get 
cold. 

Beale. Don't care; don't vrant any coffee. Baltimore and Ohio 

Mrs. B. {aside). How shall I ever tell him about that trouble of 
mine? He's too absorbed to listen to me. {aloud) William, have you 
seen the children this morning? {he continues reading) William, have 
}'ou spoken to the children? 

'Ekm^y, {abstractedly) . Children! whose children? {reads.) 

Mrs. B. Why, our children, to be sure. 

Beale. Our children? Sure enough; I forgot we had children. 
{continues reading.) 

Mrs. B. You even neglect your own offspring. Who is to care 
for them if their father doesn't. 

Beale. Now don't talk nonsense, Maria. If children have a 
mother and other things they want, the father can attend to his 
business. 

Mrs. B. {aside) I must tell him, or he may hear of it elsewhere, 
and then there will be trouble, {aloud) William, I want to have a 
talk with you on a very serious subject. 

, Beale. Not now, Maria. I have got to get down town; and be- 
sides you know I didn't sleep a wink all night, {reading) One hun- 
dred and fifty and a half ! By Jupiter! {jumps up) I must be off. 
Kiss the children for me. I'll hear what you've got t o say when I 
get home. [Exit, c. D. 

Mrs. B. It's too bad. My mind is in a dreadful state ever since I 
received that letter. I wanted to confess all to him, but he wouldn't 
hear it. {takes out letter and reads) ''If you will grant mean inter- 
view to-morrow morning"— (s/)eaA^) That's to-day — {reads) ''during 



A PAIR OF SHOES. 5 

your husband's absence, I will bring 3'ou the letters that you have 
written to Ernest Griffiths, and all will be over between you. 

''Theodore Treadbar." 
Theodore Treadbar ! I don't know Mm, and I don't want lo know 
him. But if I do not see him I shall not get the letters back that I 
was foolish enough to write to one whose intentions could only have 
been the basest. 

Enter Mary. 

Mary. Mrs. Beale, the shoes have come from the shoemaker's. 

Mrs. B. Then why don't you bring them up? 

Mary. Please, mum, the shoemaker's wife has come with 'em. 

Mrs. B. The shoemaker's wife! What does she want ? 

Mary (tangliincj). Oh, d'ye know, mum, it's too funny for any- 
thing. She's jealous of her husband. When I asked her what made 
her bring ihem instead of him, she looked at me suspiciously and said 
she brought them herself because she wasn't going to have him come 
foolin' round here anymore. "He must have some sweetheart in 
this house," she said, "for he's always so anxious to come here." 

Mrs. B. How ridiculous ! I never knew shoemakers' v^ives were 
ever jealous. But what does she want ? 

Mary. She wants to bring the shoes up herself. 

Mrs. B. Well, let her bring them up. {exit Mary) This world is 
full of petty jealousies. I declare it's perfectly astonishing. Here's 
a shoemaker's wife, just because we happen to patronize her husband 
a little oftener than usual, following him around to his customers, 

Mrs. Ov^ens {outside). It's a pair of lady's shoes. 

Enter Mrs. Owenst, c, with sJwes. 

Mrs. O. Is this the lady of the house? 

Mrs, B. This is the lady of the house. 

Mrs. O. Well, then, madam, here are the shoes, {goes towardsher, 
stops as she is about handing them to her) What ! am I dreaming ! 
Can it be ! "" 

Mrs. B. {looking at her closely). You are Mrs. Owens. Isn't your 
Christian name Margaret ? 

Mrs. O. Yes, yes ; and yours is Maria ? 

Mrs. B. That's it. 

Mrs. O. Why, Maria — I mean Mrs. Beale — Bless your heart, I 
will give 3"ou a hug. I don't care if you have got rich since we 
were friends, {squeezes and kisses Iter) There ! and to think that my 
husband should be making shoes for you, and me not know it was 
my old friend, Maria ! 

Mrs. B. Sit down, Maggie, and tell me all about yourself, 

Mrs. O. There isn't much to tell. My husband was a journey- 
man shoemaker, and I was his sweetheart ; and then he got to be a 
boss shoemaker, and 'cause he didn't happen to marrjc anyone but 
me, I'm his wife. 

Mrs. B. And you're living happy, aren't 3^ou ? 

Mrs. O. I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong in suspecting him ; 
but the girls are fond of him 'cause he aint the homeliest chap in the 
wo»ld, and I'm bound to keep an eye on him. 

Mks. B. And were you jealous of me, too ? 

Mrs. O. Pshaw ! of course not of you. But, don't you see, when 
a mau makes three pairs of shoes-^all ladies' shoes— for one family — 



6 A PATH OF SHOES. 

Mns. B. Why, my brother-in-law sent me three silk drcszes from 
Paris, and I wanted to match them, that was all. 

Mks. O. That's comforting, anyhow, {after a 'paup.e, during icJiicJi 
slie has been looking round adniiringly) Well, Maria, I'm glad to tej 
you so prosperous. You are happ5% ar^ n'c you ? 

Mks. B. Not so happy as I used to be when my husband kept a 
hardware store, and we were living on a small but sufficient income. 
I did all the work around the house myself then, and didn't keep 
so many servants. JSTow that I've nothing to do but enjoy myself, 
I'm perfectly miserable. Since my husband has got rich he won't 
let me do anything, and I feel as though I was a useless piece of fur- 
niture. 

Mrs. O. But you have children, haven't you ? 

Mrs. B, Two ; a boy and a girl. They're sweet children, too. 
I'm their mother, that's about all. We keep a governess and a 
nurse, and if I tr}' to do more than make a few suggestions every now 
and then I incur their displeasure, and they report me to m}^ hus- 
band. 

Mrs. O. Oh, I guess it isn't so bad as all that. 

Mrs. B. But I haven't told you what's worrying me worse than 
all! 

Mrs. O. Is there anything worse ? 

Mrs. B.' You're an old friend, Margaret, and I will confide in 
you. You can keep a secret ? 

Mrs. O. You know I can. But it isn't anything dreadful, is it ? 

Mrs. B. It isn't so dreadful now as it threatens to become. 

Mrs. (>. You don't say so ? I'm dying to hear it ; go on. 

Mrs. B. About a year ago, with more time on my hands than I 
knew what to with, I got acquainted with a young man, who fell in 
love with m^e ! 

Mrs. O. In love with you ? It's getting awfully interesting. Go 
on. 

Mrs. B. At first the young man's attentions were quite agreeable. 
They amused me ; it was such a p'easant way of killing time ; but 
after a while I found that I was getting to be fond of him. 

Mrs. O. {witli great interest). Go on ; that's splendid — I mean it 
isn't splendid at all, but, go on. 

Mrs. B. We began a correspondence. 

Mrs. O. Began a what ? 

Mrs. B. We exchanged letters. He wrote to me, and — 

Mrs. 0. You wrote to him ? 

Mrs. B. Yes, secretly, 'poste restanie. 

Mrs. O. Protestant ; who was he ? 

Mrs. B. ISTo ; 'poste restante — the letters were directed to the post 
and called for. 

Mrs. O. Oh, I see. 

Mrs. B. Our htters, at first, were merely formal, but friendly ; 
but after a while he grew more pressing — he wanted all sorts of to- 
kens. 

Mrs. O. Wanted tokens ; what kind of tokens ? 

Mrs. B. My picture — a ring — hair. 

Mrs. O. He wanted hair ? The idea ! Didn't he have enough of 
his own ? Did you give him any ? 

3Irs. B. No ; I wrote to him and told him to let all be at end be- 
tween us. I sent him back his letters and asked him for mine. 

Mrs. O. Did he send them ? 



A PAIR OF SHOES. 7 

Mrs. B. He didn't reply, and never sent the letters. That -was 
six months ago. The wor^t is still to come. 

Mrs. O. Mercy on us ; go on, go on. 

Mrs. V). Yesterday I received a letter from a person signing him- 
self Theodore Treadbar, a totally strange name. He offers, on'^condi- 
tion of a meeting here with me, in the absence of my husband, to 
restore the letters I was foolish enough to write lo another. Kow, I 
appe.'l to you, am I not the most unfortunate woman in the world ? 
(distressed ) 

Mrs. 0. It is kind o' unfortunate; but you were too thoughtless 
for a married woman. 

Mrs. B. Oh it was more than thoughtlessness, it was a great wrong 
to war. IS my husband. I don't want to see this strange man, but how 
am I to get my letters back ? 

Mrs. O. The best tiling you can do is to make a clean breast of it 
to your husband; get him to forgive you, and then pitch this chap 
out of the window. 

Mrs. B. I wanted to tell him to-day, but his head is so full of 
bulls and bears— 

Mils. O. Full of what ? 

]Mrs. B. Stoclis and speculations — that he won't let me talk to him, 
and it's too late now, for I expect this awful man eveiy minute. 

Mrs. O. Is it to-day ? What are you going to do ? 

Mrs. B. Oh if I onV knew. 

Mrs. O. (suddenly). I know 1 

Mrs. B. You/ 

Mrs. O. I'll talk to the man. 

Mrs. B. Hovv^ could you think of it ? 

Mrs. O. I'll do more fcan think of it; I'll work it. You just let 
me handle him. He won't know what's struck him when I got hold 
of him. Do you expect him in this room ? 

Miis. B. Yes. 

Mrs. O. Then let's go into the next, and when he comes I'll meet 
him alone. I'll promise you I'll get the letters, and he'll never want 
to come back either, (rising.) 

Mrs. B. (embracing her). You dear good friend, if you do that Til 
never forget your kindness as long as I live 1 But first let me leave 
word, (strikes bell.) 

Enter Jefferson, l. 

Mrs. B. If any one should call for me, ask him to wait here. 

Jefferson. Yes'm. [Exit, l. 

Mrs. B. (to Mrs. O.). Come, let us go into my room. 

Miis. O. Just wait a minute, Maria. I want to ask a favor of 
you. 

JMrs. B. What is it ? I'll do anything in the world for you. 

Mrs. O. Will you lend me your servant for a minute ? 

Mrs. B, Do you want to send him somewhere ? (about tostrikethe 
ML) 

Mrs. O. Ko, no; don't touch the bell; that's what I want to do. 
It tickles me so to see that all you've got to do is to touch the bell 
and in pops a nigger. Let me*^play lady of the house a minute. 

Mrs. B. (laughs). Oh, is ihat all ? Certainly. 

Mrs. O. (pleased). What fun ! (sounds the bell) 

Enter Jeff., l. 



8 A PAIH OF SHOES. 

Jkff. Well, ma'am. 

Mrs. O. {pompouslii). I am Mrs. James Owens. If an v one should 
come and a^k for me, t(4l liim to wait here. (Jeff, stands puzzled, 
first looking at one and then the other.) 

IMrs. B. Well, didn't you hear ? What are you standing there 
for ? 

Mrs. O. Begone ! 

Jeff. Yes' m. (goes off amazed,) 

Mrs. O. Ha, ha, ha ! That was scrumptious ! It my old man 
had seeu that, he'd have opened his eyes a mil<^ wide ! (dratrijig her- 
self up proudly, in affected tone) Come, my dear friend, we will with- 
draw into the adjoining apartment. {Exeunt Mrs. O. and B., ii. 

Enter Owexs, followed by Jeff., c. 

Owens. And so my wife is here, is she ? 

Jeff. Yes, sah, and she lef word if you came to tell you to wait 
here for her. 

Owens. Why^, how did she know I was coming ? 

Jeff. Dnnno, sah. She must have knowedit or she couldn't have 
tole me. Take a seat, sah, and wait, (aside) Ef the shoemaker's wife 
can play off de lady, guess the shoemaker ought to make himself to 
home too. \^E.vit, l. 

Owens. I've come after the oM woman. That was a sudden no- 
tion of hers to carry the shoes to my customers herself. I wonder 
what capers she's b^en cutting since she's been here. She must have 
expected me, or she wouldn't have left word for me to wait. It's 
mighty cool, though, for her to act as if she belongc^d to the family. 
Well, I'll let her know that she ain't the only one that knows how 
to put on airs i I rich folks' houses, {lounges on sofa) I wish she'd 
come though. I hear footsteps. It must be her. (takes up paper and 
reads with mock dignity.) 

Enter Treadbar, c, followed by Jeff. 

Jeff. Take a seat, if you please, sah. She'll be here in a minute. 
(aside) Visitors is lively this mornin'. \_Edt, shaking his head. 

Treadbar. And so she has consented. By Christopher I But, 
to tell the truth, I don't feel altogether easy about it ; especially be- 
cause it's day-time. If it was only at night, I'd feel in my element. 
I'm not afraid of anybody at night, t could woo a fair queen by 
gaslight, and I shouldn't mind it, by Christopher ; but the daylight 
plays the devil with me. But it's got to be done, so there's no use 
lamtmting. I might as well ta'^e it easy and wait for her, (goes over 
toioards 0\yy.i^^ and sees him) What's this, by Christopher ? 

Owens. Hallo ! What'n in thunder's this thing ? 

Tread, (aside). I feel squeamish. Who can thnt be ? Perhaps — 
perhaps it's the husband. By Christopher ! (looks at Owens timidly.) 

Owens (aside) What's the mntter with him ? Ue looks at me as 
though he di In't like my being here. 

Tread, {embarrassed). Hes: pardon, sir. 

Owens (quietly). What is it you want, sir ? 

Tread, (nerwush/, aside). Hang it, I feel my nerves oozing away. 
(cdoicd) I — I don't want an3^tliiug of you. 

OwjENS, Who QhCf then ? 



A PAIR OF SHOES. 9 

Tkead. {greatly confused). The truth is, I wanted to see— to say- 
to — that is, to arrange with your wife. 

OwEKs {startled),^ls\y v^iiQ ! 

Tkead. {falling hack frightenecl). He is the husband, by Chris- 
topher. 

OwExs. And you wanted to see my wife ? You knew she would 
be here ? 

Tkead. Yes — no — that is — 

Owens {getting furious). You wanted to have a secret meeting 
with my wife ? (Thead. is so Urrified he is unable to speak, but gesticu- 
lates wildly.) 

OwE^s^ia^ide). I've squelched him. I'll keep it up. {aloud) Tell 
me, sir, I insist ; did you come here to meet my icifef 

Tread. I — I'll come some other time, {tries to go.) 

Owens {seizes hini and flings 1dm about). But you've failed, 3-ou 
scoundrel ! I've spoiled your litile game this time. Kow, confess 
this instant or I'll murder you ! I know all, so you needn't try to 
deceive me. Remember, sir, I know all. {aside) I don't know a 
d thing, (aloud) Kow, speak. 

Trext>. {out of breath, hardly able to stand). As you know all, I 
have come with the most honorable intentions. The young man 
who has been paying atteniions to your wife — 

Ow^ENS {turbulenily).. Attentions to my wife, {clutching him.) 

Tread. Not me ! No, not me ! Another fellow ; he was a 
friend of mine. He had to leave for California, but before he went 
he gave me these letters to hand to your wife, {searching nerwxisly in 
his pockets.) 

Owens. Letters ! Has my wife written him letters ? 

Tread. Yes; twelve of 'em, four pages each. Here they are. 
{hands him letters.) 

Owens {snatching iJiem). Give me 'em. 

Tread. With pleasure. Take 'em. And now, Ibid you good 
evening, sir. {Jiurries to door c, looks back with a sigh of relief) By 
Ch'istopher ! [Exit, c. 

Owens {ercitedly). So my wife has made an appointment with a 
stranger. Ha ! now I see it all. That's why she has been finding 
fault with our plain mode of living for the past month ; that's wh}'- 
she followed me liere, pretending 10 suspect me. The false wretch. 
Oh, if I could only get at her now. {clutching the air) I wonrler 
which room she's in. I never can tell which wa.y to turn in these 
high-toned houses ; they'ie all doors. (Beale is heard icithout) 
'J here's some one coming ! Perhaps it's another one to meet my wife I 
If I could only catch lier in conversation with one of these chaps, 
wouldn't I make it hot for both of them ? I'll hide somewhere. 
Where can I, though ? Ah ! there, {hides behind floicer-stand, r. u. e.) 

Enter Beale, c. d. 

Beale. The deuce take*thc whole stock hoard and everything]: and 
everybody. Just my confounded luck. The very Western Union 
that I sold 3^e>terday went up this morning. I couldn't stand it 
down town any longer. I broke loose as soon as I could, and here 
I am. 

Enter "KnQ, 0., l. 



10 A TAIH OF SHOES. 

Mrs. O. {aside) . I must see if that fellow hasn't got here yet. 
{sees Beale) "Y es ; there ho is . 

Owens. There she is. 

Mrs. O. I've got to be on my guard. It's a delicate piece of busi- 
ness. 

Owens. I've got to keep my eye on her (Beale lias been pacing 
the stage, muttering but not hearing or noticing them.) 

Mrs. O. Say ! You, sir. 

Beale. Halloa ! {aiaring at her.) 

Mrs. O. Don't you halloa me, sir. {aside) How he stares at me. 
{aloud) You're surprised to see me here, aren't you ? 

Beale. To tell the truth, [ am. What do you want ? 

Mrs. O. You'll find that out soon enough. Tell me, sir, are you 
acquainted with Mrs. William Beale ? 

Beale {astonished) . Mrs. William Beale ? That's pretty good. 
Well, considering ihat she is my 

Mrs. O, Hold on there. Don't say another word. 

Beale. Well, this beats all. Here's a perfect stranger taking 
possession of my apartments and forbiddini^ me to speak, {sternly) 
Madam, I don't know you, and I am not the least anxious to be- 
come better acquainted. Atl I would like to know is what right you 
have to pounce on me in this manner, and what the devil you ex- 
pect me to do ? 

Mrs. O. {aside). That's the coolest customer I ever dealt with. 
{aloud) Now, look here, sir. You can't come that little game over 
me. I'm not to be bullied ; I want you to understand that. You 
think because you've been let into a little secret, you can walk over 
us ; but you'll find you're mistaken, my dear sir. 

Beale {aside). She calls me her dear sir. {aloud) Madam, I am 
not your dear sir. I'm nobody's dear sir. I'm master of this house ; 
I want you to bear that fact in mind, so you'd better say what 
you've got to say and be done with it. 

Mrs. O. {aside). That man's impudence takes the shine off any- 
thing I ever saw. 

Beale. Come, be quick about it. 

Mrs. O. Well, then, hand over those letters that a certain lady 
wrote to a certain gentleman. Hand them over this minute, and 
then get right out of this house ; that's all you'll have to do. 

Beale. D it all, this is going it too strong. Letters — what 

letters ? 

Mrs. O. Then you wont give them up? You want to ruin a poor 
woman's reputation forever. No, sir ; I won't stand it. Depend 
upon it, sir, if you don't give up them letters, Mr. ! William Beale, 
the lady's husband, will call you to account and make you suffer for 
it, for he knows all. 

Beale. What ! William Beale call me to account ? Me ? 

Mrs. O. You won't believe me ? Well, then maybe you'll be- 
lieve Mrs. Beale herself, {goes r. and calls) Maria, come here. 

Enter Mrs. B., r? 

Mrs. B. Have you got the letters ? 

Mrs. O. He won't give them to me. Tell him yourself that — 
Mrs. B. {seeing Beale, and screaming in alarm). Heavens, my 
husband 1 
Mrs. O. Who, what ; where is your husband ? 



A PAIR OF SHOES. 11 

Mrs. 0. There he stands! And did you tell liim? lam lost! 
{sinks into chair.) 

Mrs. O. {looking at Beale in despair). What, lie I Him! Oh, 
mercy on us 1 

Beale {growing suddenly furious). Alif I now see through it. 
My wife has written letters — compromising letters, {rushing to Mrs. 
B.) Woman, confess. What have you done ? 

Mrs. B. Well, then, these letters— these compromising letters — 
were written — 

Mrs. O. {coming doton between them). By me. They were mine ; 
that's why I asked you for them, because I thought you were the 
one — 

Beale . Which one ? 

Mrs. O. The one who — who got them from my lover, and then — 
and then — 

Owens {dashing dozen the letter). And then gave them to me ! 

Mrs. O. My husband, {screams) Mercy on us I {sinks into a chair.) 

Beale. Your husband ? 

Mrs. B. My shoemaker ! 

Owens. Yes ; I am the man who's got the wife, that writes the 
letters I Ah 1 {furiously.) 

Beale. Give them to me. 

Mrs. O. No, for heaven's sake, don't ; what I have wrote no one 
but my husband can read, {aside) Not even him. {snatches the letters 
suddenly and hurries up stage. ) 

Owens. Darn it I Give 'em back to me. {follows her.) 

Mrs. B. Thank heaven ! 

Mrs. O. {on one side of the table, to her husband on the other). Wait 
till we get home. I'll tell you all. Lean your head over ; I'll whis- 
per to you. {he leans over, 

Mrs. O. Keep sdll, you fool ; don't you know that I can't write. 

Owens {with a sudden start). By golly, that's the truth, and I 
never thought of it. But who wrote them ? 

Mrs. O. Hush, {pointing to IsIb,^. B.) 

Owens {looking at Beale). Oh! 

Beale. I say, Mr. Shoemaker, what has your wife been saying to 
you ? 

Owens. What she been saying? Ah! Oh! **You see," said 
she, *• it's your own fault, my dear husband. If you hadn't neglect- 
ed me I should never have" — {they walk off, conversing in an under- 
tone.) 

Mrs, B . Margaret, my dear, I owe you my everlasting thanks. 

Mrs. O. I hope it'll teach you a lesson, and whenever you have 
more time on your hands again than you know what to do with, 
think of that pair of shoes that I brought you, so that if it hadn't 
been for them you mighn't have got out of your scrape, {they retire 
up,) 

Beale {coming down with Ow:ens). You're right. I have been 
neglecting my wife, too. You never can tell what the consequences 
may be. I'm going to reform. But what's that you were saving 
about speculations? You don't mean to tell me that you've been 
buying stock ? 

Owens. A little. 

Beale {getting excited). What stock ? 

Owens. Western Union. She's moving. 

Beale. New Jersey Central ! You did.^ You did ! Maria, come 



12 A PAIR OF SHOES. 

here. (]\Itis. B. hurries down) Shake this hicky shoemaker by the 
hand. He's made a fortune on my stock. He's bought my Western 
Union. 
Mus. O. What ! my dear old Jimmy, {embraces Mm,) 
Mrs. B. {to Beale). His wife and I are old friends. I wish him 

joy. 

Owens. But what's all the stock in the world worth to a man 
who's got a jealous wife, following him all about ? 

Mrs. O. I'll never follow joxx again. I'll stay at home and mind 
the baby, and never worry you as long as I live. 

jMrs. B. (/6» Beale). There's a resolve for you. Why don't you 
talk like that? 

Beale. My angel, I'm going to give up stocks. 

Mrs. J]. Thank heaven . 

Beale {to Owens). Shoemaker, I'm going to open a large boot 
and shoe establishment ; will you come and run it for me ? 

Owens. All this luck in one day ! 

Mrs. B. Hurrah ! 

Mrs. O. I never thought so much good could come of one pair of 
shoes. 

Mrs. O. Mrs. B, Beale. 

CUETAIK 



r>E AVITT'S 

ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMA. 



*' Let those laugh now who never laughed before, 
And those who always laughed now laugh the mbre/^' 

Nothing so thorough and complete in the way of Ethiopian and Comic Drama^ 
'ha^ e^er been printed as those that appear in the following list. Not only are th^] 
; plots excellent, the characters droll, the Incidents funny, the language humorous, 
fbut s?\ the situations, by-play, positions, pantomimic business, scenery, and tricks 
are se plainly set down and clearly explained, that the merest novice could put 
any of them on the stage. Included in this catalogue are all the most laughable 
and elective pieces of their class ever produced. 

*** In ordering, please copy the figures at the commencement of each play^ 
which indicate the number of the piece in " De Witt's Ethiopian and Comio 
Drama." 

p^^ Any of the following plays sent, postage free, on receipt of prico- 
15 Ce&ts Each. Address, 

CLi:N"TO]Sr T. DE WITT, 

J\ro, 33 Rose Street, JVew York. 



The figures in the columns indicate the number of characters-*!.!, matet 



¥. female. 



'No. 31. F. 

73. African Box, burlesque, 2 scene 5 

107. Africanus Bluebeard, musical 

Ethiopian burlesque 6 2 

43. Baby Elephant, sketch, 2 scene 7 1 
79. Barney's Courtship, musical 

interlude, 1 act 1 1 

4cl. Bad Whiskey, sketch, 1 scene. 2 1 
6. Black Chap from Whitechapel, 

negro piece 4 

10. Black Ciiemist, sketch, 1 scene 3 

11. Black-ey'd William, sketch, 2 

scenes 4 1 

40. Big Mistake, sketch, 1 scene.. 4 
. 78. BDgus Indian, sketch, 4 scenes 5 2 
, 89. BagLis Talking Machines (The) 

•*' farce, 1 scene 4 

24. Bruised and C ired, sketch, 1 ^ 

scene — 2 

108. Charge of the Hash Brigade, 

Irish musical sketch 2 2 

35. Coal Heaver's Revenge, negro 

sketch, 1 scene 6 

41. Cremation, sketch, 2 scenes... 8 1 

12. Daguerreotypes, sketch, 1 scene 3 
53. Dcunon and Pythias, burlesque, 

2 scenes 5 1 

63. Darkey's Strataijem, 1 act... 3 1 

110. De Black Magician, Ethiopian 

comicality, 1 scene 4 2 

111. Deeds of Darkness, Ethiopian 

extravaganza, 1 act 6 1 

50. Draft (The), sketch, 1 act 6 

(SA Dutchman's Ghost, 1 scene... 4 1 



No. 

95. 
67. 
4. 
98. 
52. 
25. 

51. 

88. 

106. 



83. 



17. 
58. 
31. 
20. 
82. 
86. 
70. 
61. 
23. 



48. 
68. 
71. 
33. 
94. 



M. P. 

Dutch Justice, sketch, 1 s^.ene 11 i 

Editor's Troubles, farce, 1 Kce. 6 9 

Eh ? What is It ? sketch 4 1 

Elopement (The), farce, 1 scene 4 J 

Excise Trials, sketch, 1 scene. 10 J 
FeliOw that Looks Like Me, in- 

terhide, 1 scene — 2 ^ 

Fisherman's Luck, 1 scene.... 2 
First Night (The), Dutch farce, 

1 act 4 3 

Gambrinus, King of Lager 

Beer, Ethiopian, burlesoue. 2 

scenes - 7..... 8 1 

German Emigrant (The), sketch 

1 scene 3 3 

Getting Sqnare on the Call Boy, 

sketch, 1 stene 3 

Ghost (The), sketch, 1 act 2 

Ghost in a Pawnshop, 1 scene. 4 vi 

Glycerine Oil, sketch 3 Q 

Going for the Cup, interlude.. 4 

Good Nighfs Rest, 1 scene. ..3 

Gripsack, sketch, 1 ccene 3 

Guide to the Stage, sketch 3 

Happy Couple, 1 scene 2 1 

Hard Times, extravaganza, 1 

scene 5 I 

Hemmed In, sketch 3 1 

High Jack, the Heeler, 1 scene 6 C 

Hippotheatroii, sketch 9 

In and Out, sketch, 1 scene... 2 

Jealous Husband, sketch 2 1 

Julius, the IsJnoozer, 3 scenes . 7 • 



rs WITT'S ETHIOHAN AHD COillC DEAlIA"(Contiimea). 



1. 

'36. 
. 18. 

60. 

87. 
, 90. 
109, 
119. 
196. 

f 101 

• 8. 
44. 
49. 

27. 

SO. 

7G. 
87. 

' 9 

57! 

65. 

66. 
91. 



14. 
45. 

105. 

55. 

81. 
26 

;15. 
59. 

80. 

21. 
84. 

B8. 
74. 
.46, 
69. 
56. 
72. 

7. 

13. 

16. 

47. 

.54. 
100. 
102. 

U. 

2. 

104. 
5. 

28. 



Katrina's Little Game, Dutcli 80. 

act, 1 scene 1 2 75 

Last of the Mohicans, sketch., d 1 

Laughing Gas, sketch, 1 scene. G 1 

Live Iniim, sketch, 4 scenes. ..4 1 

Lost Will, sketch 4 G 

Lucky Job, farce, 2 scenes 3 2 

Lunatic (The), farce, 1 scene.. 3 

Making a Hit, farce, 2 scenes.. 4 

Malicious Trespass, 1 scene — 3 
]\Iidnight Intruder (The), farce, 

1 scene 6 1 

. Mollie Moriarty, Irish music- 
al sketch, 1 scene 1 1 

Mutton Trial, sketch, 2 scenes 4 

Musical Servant, sketch, 1 see. 3 

Kight in a Strange Hotel, 

sketch, I scene 2 

Obeying Orders, sketch 1 scene 2 1 

One Hundredth Kight of Ham- 
let, sketch , 7 1 

One Nigi\t in a Barroom, 

sketch 7 

One, Two, Three, 1 scene 7 

Pete and the Peddler, Negro 

and Irish sketch, 1 scene 2 1 

Policy Players, sketch, 1 scene 7 

Pompey's Paticuis, interlude, 

2 scenes 6 

Porter's Troubles, 1 scene 6 1 

Port Wine vs. Jealousy, sketch 2 1 
Painter's Apprentice (The), '^ 

farce, 1 scene — 5 C 

Polar Bear (The), 1 scene 4 1 

Recruiting Otiice, sketch, 1 act. 5 
Remittance from Home, 

sketch, 1 scene. G 

Rehearsal (Tlie), Irish farce, 2 

scenes 4 2 

Rigging a Purchase, sketch, 1 

scene 3 '0 

Rival Artists, sketch, 1 scene. 3 

Rival Tenants, sketch 4 

Sam's Courtship, farce, 1 act.. 2 1 

Sausage Makers, 2 scenes 5 1 

Scenes on the Mississippi, 

2 scenes 6 

Scampini, pantomime, 2 scenes 6 3 

Serenade(The), sketch,2 scenes 7 

Siamese Twins, 2 scenes 5 

Sleep Walker, sketch, 2 scenes 3 

Slippery Day, sketch, 1 scene. 6 1 

Squire for a Day, sketch 5 1 

Stage-struck Couple, 1 scene.. 2 1 

Stranger, burlesque, 1 scene... 1 2 

and 2 children. 

Stupid Servant, sketch, 1 ?cene 2 ^ 

Streets of New York, 1 scene . 6 

Storming the Fort, 1 scene 5 

Take it,"'Don't Take It, 1 scene 2 

T*iem Papers, sketch, 1 scene. 3 
Three Chiefs (The), 2 scenes ..60 

Three A. M., sketch, 2 scenes. 3 1 
Three Strings to One Bow, 

sketch, 1 scene 4 1 

Tricks, sketch . . . '. 5 2 

TwoAwfuls vThe), 1 scene.... 5 

Two Black Roses, sketch 4 1 

rincle Eph's Dream, 2 scenes.. 3 1 

• TJiit^--,^ sic •* ^ ^cene 6 1 



90. 

Go 
112. 
11.3- 
114. 

115. 

IIG. 

117. 

118. 

119. 
120. 
121. 
122. 
123. 
124. 
125. 
126. 
IS?. 



M. F,- 

Wanted, a Nurse, 1 scene. . . . r. 4 G 
W^eston the Walkist, Dutch 

sketch, 1 scene 7 1 

What Shall I Take ? farce, 1 act 8 1 

Who Died First ? 1 scene 3 1 

Vv^ho's the Actor ? farce, 1 

scene 4 

"SVrong Woman iu the Right 

Place, sketch, 2 scenes . .. 2 2 

Young Scamp, sketch, 1 scene. 3 
The Coming j\Ian, sketch, 1 act 3 i. 

Ambition, farce, 2 scenes 7 li 

O.'ie Night in a Medical College, 

uketch, 1 scene 7 J 

Private Boarding, comedy, 1 

scene 5 1 

Zacharias' Funeral, farce, 1 

scene 5 

Mc tor B*:iliows, comedy, 1 scene ,^^^ 
Hei-Ti's Funny Babies, bur- 

le*;uo»....... , g C 

My V/ife's Visitors, comic 

dramc\lfcene , 6 1 

Body Snatchers (The), Negro 

sketch, .'5 scenes .3 1 

Stocks Up I Stocks Down I 

Negro fai'33, 1 scene 'Z 

Ticket Tak^^i% Negro farce, 1 

scene '9 

The IntelliEreiJce Office, Ethio- 

])ian sketcL, \ scene f 1 

Deaf as a Po!?*-., Eihiopian 

sketch. 1 scene.. f C 

Oh, Hush ! ^eg-o Operatic 

Olio, 3 scenes 4 1 

Black Statue, Nf^^ro farce, 1 

scene 4 8 

Blinks anc^ Jinks .Ethiopian 

Bkeich, 1 scene. . - ..........3 t 



DE WITT'S DRAWING-ROOM OPERETTAS. 



E^= TO MUSICAL AMATEURS. ^^| 

The number of Musical Amateurs, both ladies and gentlemen, is not only very 
targe, but is constantly increasing, and very naturally, for there is no more re-^ 
fined and pleasant mode of spending leisure hom^s than in singing and 2)la7/ing the 
choice productions of the beist Composers. Hitherto there has been an almost total 
iickof suitable pieces adapted to an evening's entertainment in Parlors by Amateurs. 
f)f course whole Operas, or even parts of Operas, require orchestral accompani- 
fcients and full choruses to give them effect, and are therefore clearly unfit for 
Amateur performance, while a succession of songs lacks the interest given by a 
plot and a contrast of characters. In this series {a list of which is given below) we 
havft endeavored to supply this want. The best Music of popular Composers is wed- 
ded to appropriate words, and the whole dovetailed into plots that are effective as 
mere petite plays, but are rendered doubly interesting by the appropriate and beau- 
iyCul MusiCi specially arranged for them. 



LIST OF DE WITT'S MUSICAL PLAYS, 

PRICE 15 CENTS EACH. 



CEAP YEAE.-A Musical Dual- 
ity. By Alfued B. Sedgwick. Mu- 
sic, sekcted and adapted from Of- 
fenbach's celebrated Opera, " Gene- 
Tieve de Brabant.'' One Male, one 
Female Character. 

THE TWJIT SISTEKS-Comic 

Operetta, in One Act. The Music 
So4ected from the most popular num- 
bers in Le Cocq's celebrated Opera 
Bouffe, " Girofle Girojla," and the 
Libretto writtou by Alfred B. Sedg- 
wick. Two Male, Two Female 
Characters. 

SOLD AGAITf AND GOT THE 

MONEY. — Comic Operetta, in One 
Act. The Music composed and the 
Libretto written by Alfred B. Sedg- 
AvicK. Three Male, One Female 
Character. 

THE QUEEREST OOUETSHIP, 

— Co.nic Operetta, iu One Act. The 
Music arrani^ed from Offenbach's 
celebrated Opera, " La Princesse de 
Trebizonde," and the Libretto writ- 
ten by Alfred B. Sedgwiqi^, One 
Male, One Female Character. 



ESTEANGED— An Operetta, in 

One Act, The Musie arranged from 
Verdi's celebrated Opera, "II Trov- 
atore:' and the Libretto adapted by 
Alfred B. Sedgwick. Two Male, 
One Female Cliaractcr. 

OIEOUMSTANOES ALTER 

CASES.— Comic Operetta, in One 
Act. The music composed and the 
Libretto written by Alfred B. Sedg- 
wick. One JNIale, One Female Char- 
acter 

MY WALKING PEOTOGEAPR 

— Musical Duality, in One Act. Tho 
Music arranged from Le Cocq's 
Opera, "Za Fille de Madaine Angot,''"' 
and the Libretto written by At fred 
B. Sedgwick. One Male, One Fe- 
male Character. ; 



HOLLY MOEIAETY.-An Irish 

Musical Sketch, in One Act. The 
Music composed and the Dialogue 
written by Alfred B. Sedgwick. 
One Male, one Pem^e Character. 
Suitable for the Variety Stage. 

THE OHAEGE OF THE HASH 

BRIGADE.— A Comic Irish Musical 
Sketch. The Musie comi)osed and 
the Libretto written by Joseph P. 
Skelly. Two Male, two Female 
Characters. Suitable for the Vari^.ty 
Stage. ,, 



GAMBEIUUS, KING OF LAGEE 

BEER.— A Musical Ethiopian Bur- 
lesque, in One Act. Music and Dia- 
logue by Frank Dumont. Eight 
Male, one Female Character. Suita- 
ble for the Ethiopian Stage. 

APEIOANUS BLUEBEAED.-A 

Musical Ethiopian Burlesque, in One 
Act. Music and Dialogue by Frank 
•DuMONT. Four Male, four Female 
Characters. Suitable for the EtJao^ 
pian Stage. 



MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, 

INSTRUCTION BOOKS. 

STAGE PREP ARATIOMS AND ACCESSORI ES, ETC., ETC. 

We send any of the following and similar articles, promptly at lowest prices : 

Wiffs, iTau!*tJi.c'Sies, :»ii<l ImperijiBs of every style, shape ^nd color, 
for Caucasian. Mongolian or Ethiopian " make up,'" 

Fuce l*re|>Jiri*tion*», such as prepared Cork for Xegro Minstrels, Mongolian 
Paste for Mulattoes, Indians, etc. ; Prepared Whiting for Clowns. Statues, etc. ; 
Pencils to trace eyebrows and veius ; Indian Ink ; a bright harmless Lip House. 

'a"*ibie;»ii l.ii;g:St !.*»., iUilmei i-ire.^, and all the"^ various articles needed ttf 
throw the effects of sunlight, moonlight, and Irelight upon faces, groups of scenery. 
All prepared entirely harmless. 

Jllusiciil liisiruuiejitH'. of everj^ variety, plain and highly ornamented. 

?7iu*$iciil Iii*»ti-iieti<ni IS'»oli!!», ]Manuals for the Guitar, the Banjo the 
Violins, the Accordeon, the Yiolincello, the Clarioner, Cornopeon, Fife and Drum. 

**5j< For full particulars, lisc of prices abd description, send for De Tl'itt's 
I^f jiunu«>tu ^iitJilosrue, which will be forward free and postage paid to any 
address in the United States or Canada. Address, 

CI.I!^^TO.\ T. I>E WITT, 

33 Rose Street, New York. 

PAT ROONEY'S 

Quaint Conundrums and Funny Gags, 

iBiterlsirded witli <lol liekingr Stories— IiinBi '^Vit «iid Hii* 
liior — riiinesc ^ketclies— Sheeiiey Soft Sjiwdirr, etc., etc. 
Koiiiid to tickle the ribs of ilie lean, siiid iii;Lk6 tlieiii ^ rovr 
fiit ;it tlie f III! ; while the ovci -st<»ti t wil I l:i< idsrii off til I their 
supeiHiioiis fiit, residiiis^ Kuoiiey's jokes, siliLViiys so put. 

This is a very neatly printed book, and has a fine Lithogra;jh Picture of Pat 
Roouev on the cover, t'lice ^.> Cents. 



GUS WILLIAMS' 

WORLB OF HUMOR, 

. Containing lots of The Happiest Hits, Tlie I>Mtchiest Drolleries, 
'B'he THosr KollickiB>.sr Repartees, I'he Ciiissies^t <i;is"s, and the 
greatest Avalanche of Anecdotes that ever Lassoed Laughers ! ! by Our German 
Senator, who for this occasion, leaves the affairs of the nation to find food for & 
whole continent of fun-lovins: constituents. I*rice 2o Cents. 




His GAGS AND STUMP SPEECHES ; 

NIGGER AND DUTCH STORIES AND DIALOGUES ; 
Broken Chinee ^^ Dialect Pieces ; and Queer Conundrums, 

I*r5cc 1 5 Cents. 



*** Single conies of the above books sent, postage free, to any address in the United 
States or Canada, on receipt of price. Address. 

CLINTON T. DE WITT, Publisher, 

33 Kosc Street, New York. 



DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS (Continued). 



No. 

144. 
34. 

137. 
111. 
119. 
165. 

48. 

32. 
164. 
109. 

85. 

87. 
143. 
189. 
163. 
154. 

63. 

39. 
7. 

49. 

15. 

46. 

^1. 
184. 
108. 



130. 
92. 



140. 

115. 

2. 

57. 
104. 
112. 
185. 

84. 
117. 

171. 
14. 

173. 
176. 

90. 
170. 

33. 
3. 

97. 

66. 

172, 
94. 
45. 

155. 

178. 

147. 
156, 

82. 
127. 

23. 



M. P. 



Lancashire Lass, melodrama, 5 acts.l2 
Larkins' Love Letters, farce, 1 act., 3 

L'Article 47, drama, 3 acts 11 

Liar (The), comedy, 2 acts 7 

Life Chase, drama, 5 acts 14 

Living- Statue (The), farce, 1 act 3 

Little Annie's feirtlnday, farce, 1 act. 2 
Little Rebel, farce, 1 act 4 



Little Ruby, drama, 3 acts. . . 

Locked In, comedietta, 1 act 

Locked In with a Lady, sketch, 1 act. 

Locked Out, comic scene 

Lodgers and Dodgers, farce, 1 act.. 
Leap Year, musical duality, 1 act. . . 

Marcoretti, drama, 3 acts 10 

Maria and Magdalena, play, 4 acts . 8 
Marriage at Any Price, farce, 1 act. 5 
Master Jones' Birthday, farce, 1 act. 4 

Maud's Peril, drama, 4 acts 5 

Midnight Watch, drama, 1 act 8 

Milky White, drama, 2 acts 4 

Miriam's Crime, drama, 3 acts 5 

Model of a Wife, farce, 1 act 3 

Money, comedy, 5 acts 17 

Mr. Scroggins, farce, 1 act 

Mr. K., farce, 1 act 3 

My Uncle's Suit, farce, 1 act 4 

My Wife's Diary, farce, 1 act 3 

My Wife's Out, farce, 1 act 2 

My Walking Photograph, musical 

duality, 1 act ... 1 

Never Reckon Your Chickens, etc., 

farce, 1 act 3 

New Men and Old Acres, comedy, 3 8 

Nobody's Child, drama, 3 acts .8 

Noemie, drama, 2 acts 4 

No Name, drama, 5 acts ,7 

Not a Bit Jealous, farce, 1 act . . . .' ' 3 
Not So Bad as We Seem, play, 5 acts. 14 

Not Guilty, drama, 4 acts 10 

Not Such a Fool as He Looks, drama, 

3 acts 5 

Nothing Like Paste, farce, 1 act 2 

No Thoroughfare, drama, 5 acts and 

prologue 13 

Off the Stage, comedietta, 1 act. ... 3 
On Bread and Water, farce, 1 act. . . 1 

Only a Halfpenny, farce, 1 act 2 

Only Somebody, farce, 1 act 4 

One too Many for Him, farce, 1 act. 2 

£100,000, comedy, 3 acts 8 

Orange Bio soms, comedietta, 1 act. 3 
Orange Girl, drama, in prologue 

and 3 acts 18 

Ours, comedy, 3 acts .*. . 6 

Our Clerks, farce, 1 act 7 

OurDomestics, comedy farce, 2 acts 6 
Our Heroes, military play, 5 acts. . .24 
Out at Sea, drama in prologue and 

4 acts 16 

Overland Route, comedy, 3 acts 11 

Peace at Any Price, farce, 1 act 1 

Peep o' Day, drama, 4 acts 12 

Peggy Green, farce, 1 act 3 

Petticoat Parliament, extravaganza, • 

in one act 15 

Photographic Mx, farce, 1 act 3 



3 3 



4 
5 
3 
4 
5 

3 
6 

4 

1 

6 
3 
2 
2 
2 
3 
4 
3 

4 
3 
5 
6 
5 

5 
5 
1 
4 
10 

24 
2 



No. K. 

61. Plot and Pas«ion, drama, 3 acts. ... 7 

138. Poll and Partner Joe, burlesque, 1 
act 10 

110. Poppleton's Predicaments, farce, 1 3 

50. Porter's Knot, drama, 2 acts 8 

59. Post Boy, drama, 2 acts 5 

95. Pretty Horse-Breaker, farce, 1 act. . 3 

181 and 182. Queen Mary, drama, 4 act8.38 

157. Quite at Home, comedietta, 1 act. . . 5 
196. Queerest Courtship (The), comic op 

eretta, 1 act 1 

132. Race for a Dinner, farce, 1 act 10 

183. Richelieu, play, 5 acts 16 

38. Rightful Heir, drama, 5 acts 10 

77. Roll of the Drum, drama, 3 acts 8 

13. Ruy Bias, drama, 4 acts 12 

194. Rum, drama, 3 acts 7 

195. Rosemi Shell, travesty, 1 act, 4 

scenes 6 

158. School, comedy, 4 acts 6 

79. Sheep in Wolf's Clothing, drama, 1 7 

37. Silent Protector, farce, 1 act 3 

35. Silent Woman, farce, 1 act 2 

43. Sisterly Service, comedietta, 1 act . . 7 
6. Six Months Ago, comedietta, 1 act. 2 

10. Snapping Turtles, duologue, 1 act. . 1 

26. Society, comedy, 3 acts 16 

78. '3p<.cial Pmormances, farce, 1 act. . 7 
31. Taming a Tiger, farce, 1 act 3 

150. Tell-Tale Heart, comedietta, 1 act. . 1 
120. Tempest in a Teapot, comedy, 1 act. 2 
146. There's no Smoke Without Fire, 

comedietta, 1 act. « 1 

83. Thrice Married, personation piece, 

1 act 6 

42. Time and the Hour, drama, 3 acts. . 7 

27. Time and Tide, drama, 8 acts and 

prologue , . . 7 

133. Timothy to the Rescue, farce, 1 act. 4 
153. 'Ti3 Better to Live than to Die, 

farce, 1 act 2 

134. Tompkins the Troubadour, farce, 1 3 
29. Turning the Tables, farce, 1 act 5 

168. Tweedie's Rights, comedy, 2 acts.. 4 

126. Twice Killed, farce, 1 act 6 

56. Two Gay Deceivers, farce, 1 act. ... 3 

123. Two Polts, farce, 1 act 4 

198. Twin Sisters (The), comic operetta, 

1 act 3 

162. Uncle's Will, comedietta, 1 act 2 

106. Up for the Cattle Show, farce, 1 act. 6 
81. Vandyke Brown, farce, 1 act 3 

124. Volunteer Review, farce, 1 act 6 

91. Walpole, comedy, 3 acts 7 

118. Wanted, a Young Lady, farce, 1 act. 3 

44. War to the Knife, comedy, 3 acts. . . 5 



Which ofthe Two? comedietta, 1 act 2 10 

Who is Who? farce, 1 act 3 2 

Widow Hunt, comedy, 3 acts 4 4 

William Tell with a Vengeance, 

burlesque 8 2 

136. Woman in Red, drama, 3 acts and 

prologue 6 

Woman's Vows and Mason's Oaths, 

4 acts 10 4 

Woodcock's Little Game, farce, 2 4 4 
Young Collegian (Cantab.), farce, 13 3 



105. 

98. 

12. 

5. 



161. 

11. 
54. 




A COMPLETE DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 
■ i» maw ^^ P^ WITT^S ACTING PLAYS AND PE WITT^S 

i ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMAS , containing Plot, Costume, Scenery, 
Time of Representatioq and every other information, mailed free and post paid. 



■.j.Di\nr(i ur ^.UNbKb&i 




015 873 048 

All IillispDsatile lul for ADiateirs. 



• ^ •^ »■» 



HOW TO ummz 

AMATEUR THEATBICALS. 



Being plain instructions for construction and arrangement of Stage, 
making Scenery, gettfng up Costumes, " Making Up " to represent 
different ages and characters, and how to produce stage Illusions and 
Effects. Also hints for the management of Amateur Dramatic Clubs, 
and a list of pieces suitable for Drawing Room Performances. Hand- 
somely illustrated with Colored Plates. 

Brice, 25 Cents. 



DE WITT'S SELECTIONS 



FOR 



AMATEei Al PAEIOR THEATRICALS. 



Nos. 1 and 2. 

Being choice selections from the very best Dramas, Comedies and 
Farces. Specially adapted for presentation by Amateurs, and for 
Parlor and Drawing Room Entertainments. 

Price, 25 Cents. 
Other Numbers of this Series will soon follow. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

lillllililiilliillilililll 

015 873 048 1 



Hollinerer Coro* 



